CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the Study
Industrial Training Fund (ITF) was established in
1971, the Industrial Training Fund has operated consistently and painstakingly
within the context of its enabling laws, i.e. Decree 47 of 1971. The objective
for which the Fund was established has been pursued vigorously and
efficaciously. In the three decades of its existence, the ITF has not only
raised training consciousness in the economy, but has also helped in generating
a corps of skilled indigenous manpower which has been manning and managing
various sectors of the national economy.
Over the years, pursuant to its statutory
responsibility, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training
programmes, reviewed its strategies, operations and services in order to meet
the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.
Beginning as a Parastatal "B" in 1971, headed by a Director, the ITF
became a Parastatal "A" in 1981, with a Director-General as the Chief
Executive under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry. The Fund has a 13 member
Governing Council and operates with 6 Departments and 3 Units at the
Headquarters, 27 Area Offices, 2 Skills Training Centres, and a Centre for
Industrial Training Excellence.
As part of its responsibilities, the ITF provides
Direct Training, Vocational and Apprentice Training, Research and Consultancy
Service, Reimbursement of up to 60% Levy paid by employers of labour registered
with it, and administers the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). It also provides
human resource development information and training technology service to
industry and commerce to enhance their manpower capacity and in-house training
delivery effort.
The main thrust of ITF programmes and services is
to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added
production in industry and commerce. Through its SIWES, Vocational and
Apprentice Training Programmes, the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and
youth self-employment, in the context of Small Scale Industrialization, in the
economy.
The
Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a recognized program which
forms part of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) approved academic
requirements in the various Science, Education and Agricultural programs
offered in Nigeria universities. It was established by Industrial Trust Fund
(ITF) in 1973 to solve the problem of inadequate practical skills preparatory
for employment in industries by Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions.
The minimum duration for SIWES is 24 weeks (6 months), except for Engineering
and Technology which is 40 weeks (10 months) in the universities.
The
SIWES Programmes according to Onwuji (2004) being a skills acquisition
programme blends theory with practice in the industrial and commercial
activities of our national economy. Ugwuamji (2010) asserts that SIWES is a
cooperative industrial internship program that involves institutions of higher
learning, Industries, the Federal government of Nigeria, Industrial Training
Fund (ITF), Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and NBTE/NCCEE in Nigeria.
The
scheme affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing
themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that
are usually not available in their institutions. Thus, the students' industrial
work experience scheme provides avenues for student in institutions of higher
learning to acquire practical skills that they are likely to meet after
graduation. However, Wodi and Dokubo (2009) opined that if the Scheme is not
adequately implemented, it becomes difficult for graduates of the system to
secure employment in the occupations or make a smooth transition from schools
to work. They conclude that in spite of apparent economic difficulty, the SIWES
in Nigerian institutions are attaining its objectives. Nevertheless, SIWES
plays a significant role in human resource development in Nigeria and students.
According to Ugwuamji (2010), students should be aware of what the present
society holds for them and adapt accordingly.
The
students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is also a skill training
program that is designed by the federal government to expose and prepare
students of university, Polytechnic and colleges of education for industrial
work situation that they might likely meet before or after graduation. Before
the establishment of the scheme was a growing concern among our industrialists
that graduates of our institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical
background studies preparatory for employment in industries.
The
main objective of the program is to bridge the gap between theories and
practical by making it possible for students to get themselves exposed to real
jobs and actual job situations and environments. It is therefore an important
and mandatory component of training in the accredited disciplines or courses
like Computer science, Engineering, Geology, and Agricultural Sciences, etc.
In
the earlier stage of science and technology education in Nigeria, students were
graduating from their respective institution without any technical knowledge or
working experience. It was in this view that students undergoing science and
technology related courses were mandated for students in different institution
in the view of widening their horizons so as to enable them have technical
knowledge or working experience before graduating from their various
institutions. The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was
established by the Industrial Training Found (ITF) 1973 to enable students of
tertiary institutions have basic technical knowledge of industrial works base
on their courses of study before the completion of their program in their
respective institutions. The scheme was designed to expose the students to
industrial environment and enable them develop occupational competencies so
that they can readily contribute their quota to national economic and
technological development after graduation. The major background behind the
embankment of students in SIWES was to expose them to the industrial
environment and enable them develop occupational competencies so that they can
readily contribute their quota to national economic and technological
development after graduation. The major benefit acquiring to students who
participate conscientiously in SIWES are skills and competencies they acquire.
The relevant production skills remain a part of the recipient of industrial
training as life-long assets which cannot be taken away from them. This is
because the knowledge and skills acquired through training are internalized and
become relevant when required to perform jobs or functions
1.2 Statement of Problem
Since the history of Industrial
Training Scheme, the students has undergo several problems, which is delay in
paying ITF allowances which is be done manually.
We need a set of simple and
consistent principles to govern the arrangements for the computerization of
projects conducted or completed under the Innovation and Technology
Support Programme (ITSP) and General Support Programme (GSP) of the
Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF). This manual system of paying ITF allowances
has led to different problems such as:
i.
Prone
to human error/typographical error
ii.
Unnecessary
delay in the payment of students and supervisor allowance
iii.
Difficulties
of students in getting placement
iv.
Inadequate
supervision
v.
Non-signing
of necessary materials like students’ log book at their places of attachment
vi.
Risk
of transporting from students place of attachment down to their various schools
for collection of their allowance.
vii.
This
research work was embarked upon to achieve certain aims which this study will
attempt critically to exhaust the subject of this study.
1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study
The aims/objectives of this study is
to set and control standards of excellence and effectiveness in and offer
direct training of professionals, technicians, technologists and entrepreneurs
to meet the human resource needs for rapid industrialization and sustainable
economic development of Nigeria, relying on a corp of highly motivated and
competent professional staff using best of breed training techniques and modern
technology.
The objectives/aims are as follows:
i.
Provision
of an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire
industrial skills and experience in their approved course of study.
ii.
Prepare
students for the industrial works situation which they are likely to meet after
graduation.
iii.
It
expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and
machinery not available in their institutions.
iv.
Provide
students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in real work situation
thereby bridging the gap between theory and practices.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The significance of this research
work is to provide a reliable and efficient platform for implementing e-payment
directly to the account of the approved participating students.
i.
To
ensure adequate funding of the scheme.
ii.
Students
taking part in the students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) are aware
of the objectives for which it was established primarily on issue of relating
theory to practice. They were usually eager to take part in the scheme because
it offers the students learning experiences which cannot be directly gained in
the class room.
iii.
Establish
SIWES and accredit SIWES unit in the approved institutions.
iv.
Formulate
policies and guideline for participating bodies and institutions as well as
appointing SIWES co-coordinators and supporting staff.
However, this package will be of good
use to all students, supervisors and ITF officers and directors because it will
saves time when information is be retrieved.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The researcher is concerned with an
online industrial training payment system. It covers all the operations of
SIWES department of the institution which is the case study. It deals with the
ITF e- payment allowances, supervision of students, online filling of log-
books.
1.6 Limitations of the Study
There are some limitations or
constraints confronting this study, they are as follows
Time: I have a very little time to carry
out this research this was the fact that I combine the research work with my
academic studies. You can agree with me that time constraints is one of the
limitations I experience while carry out this research work.
Finance: however, finance is another
constraint I experience while carry out this research. The inadequate of
finance to carry out this research slow down the research work. Despite the
limitations every effort was geared towards accomplishing this project.
1.8 Definition of
Terms
Database: A collection of different files in a
specialized way for easy retrieval and update.
Computer: An electronic device capable of
performing computations and making logical decisions as speeds of times faster
than human beings can.
Electronic Mail: It is a means of computer-based
communication in which an electronic letter is sent to one or more recipient.
Hardware: These are the physical components of
the computer.
Home Page: This is the page displayed each time
web browser is opened.
Software: It used to describe all programs
that are written in a particularly computer installation and their associated
documents.
Program: It is a set of instructions, which
enables particular processes to be performed by a computer.
Menu: This provides the user with a number
of options and a simple means of selecting between them.
Computer
Graphics: This is a
field of usual computing, where one utilizes computers both to generate visual
images synthetically and to integrate or alter visual and spatial information
samples from the real world. This involves the use of pictures, diagrams, graph,
line drawing, animated cottons etc.
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